Royals Beat Giants on Pink in The Rink Night

January 27, 2013, Victoria, BC (ISN) – In a Saturday night clash at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals hosted the Vancouver Giants for their second annual “Pink in the Rink” night.

The Royals started Patrik Polivka in goal, while the Giants responded with former Royal Jared Rathjen.

Royals fans young and old enjoyed a Royals 4-1 win over the Vancouver Giants Saturday night. A capacity crowd of 7006 fans packed Save On Food Arena for Pink On The Rink night – Erich Eichhorn image (www.allsportmedia.ca )

The physical tone from the previous night carried over on Saturday evening after Victoria forward Tim Traber landed a hard hit on Giants’ defenceman Brett Kulak early. Jamie Crooks would open the scoring for the home side with the 100th goal of his WHL career at the 5:46 mark. Austin Carroll was knocked off the puck in front of the net, but Crooks spotted the loose puck in a defender’s feet and slid it between the pads of Rathjen.

Royals Alex Gogolev would record his 60th point on the season with an assist on Brandon Magee’s goal in the first period.- Erich Eichhorn image (www.allsportmedia.ca )

The Royals took advantage of the energy provided by the sold out crowd and Brandon Magee doubled their lead on the powerplay. After Alex Gogolev fed him a pass in the slot, Magee snapped a shot off the cross bar. The puck initially stayed out, but took bounce off the netminder’s pad and trickled into the net at 12:12. The Royals took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Jamie Crooks would follow up on his shot here and band the puck through the pads of Giants Jared Rathjen to open the scoring in the second game in as many nights between the Royals and the Giants – Erich Eichhorn image ( www.allsportmedia.ca )

The Royals added to their lead on a powerplay goal by rookie forward Brandon Fushimi at 7:03 of the middle frame. Defenceman Joe Hicketts’ point shot made its way through traffic before it deflected off Fushimi in front and into the open net to give Victoria a 3-0 lead.

Royals Keegan Kanzig would appear to not only intimidate the Giants with his presence, but also help them from falling to the ice while balancing pucks on his stick – Erich Eichhorn image ( www.allsportmedia.ca )

The physical play between the two B.C. Division rivals was highlighted by a big open ice hit thrown by Taylor Crunk on a Giants’ forward midway through the period. They Royals held the Giants to just two shots in the second period and the score remained 3-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Patrik Polivka would record his second win in as many nights against the Vancouver Giants. Polivka would flirt with a shut out until Giants Cain Franson scored in the second period – Erich Eichhorn image ( www.allsportmedia.ca )

Brandon Magee continued his offensive surge with his second goal of the night just 51 seconds into the final stanza. Steven Hodges grabbed a loose puck behind the Giants’ net before he threaded a pass to Magee in the high slot. Magee wasted no time as he rifled the puck high over Rathjen’s glove and recorded his team-leading 25th goal of the year.

Royals goalie Patrik Polivka plays the puck off the boards just in time before a Giants player catches the goalie out of his net- Erich Eichhorn image ( www.allsportmedia.ca )

The Giants would get one back on a goal by Cain Franson at the 8:02 mark. The Giants shot the puck into the Royals’ zone along the right boards, but it hopped over the stick Polivka who had come out to play it behind the net. The puck found Cain Franson on the left boards who shot it into the empty net. As the final seconds ticked away, Victoria prevented any further Vancouver attack and sent 7,006 “Pink in the Rink” fans home happy. Royals 4 Giants 1.

Royals #9 Mitch Deacon and #25 Brandon Fushimi would do yeoman’s work as supporting cast in the Royals 4-1 win over the Giants at SOF Arena Saturday night . Fushimi would score three goals over the two game set against Vancouver – Erich Eichhorn image ( www.allsportmedia.ca )

Victoria went 2/5=40.0% on the powerplay, while Vancouver went 0/5=0.0%. The Royals outshot the Giants 27-18.

The Royals next home game will see them host the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday, January 29th. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. Victoria will then embark on a three-game road trip beginning on Thursday, January 31st in Kelowna.

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